The people have spoken, and some of the best businesses and organizations in Maple Ridge are being celebrated in our annual A-List.
The Maple Ridge News has once again run a community-wide vote, and is recognizing the city’s favourites from a variety of places – restaurants, businesses, horse trails, charitable events, dog parks, fishing spots… even the top vote-getting high school bands.
Our annual A-List special supplement puts a spotlight on many of the favourite things we love about our community, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
It has now been almost two decades, 18 years, since The News first started giving the community a chance to vote on what they like best here.
And people appreciate it.
That includes Vince Martin, as much as anybody. The local personal trainer was the winner of our prize package that includes a Hush blanket, and $250 worth of gift certificates for businesses in downtown Maple Ridge.
The longtime Maple Ridge resident is also a past A-List winner, as he was chosen as a favourite coach. A competitive power lifter who could deadlift 637 pounds, Martin turned to training high-end athletes. Now he enjoys giving a couch potato some physical fitness, or even a beach body.
“I love helping them reach their health goals,” he said.
While he’s won world championships in power lifting, his accomplishments in taking down contest prizes is more local. The A-List draw is his biggest win.
“I get $10 on Quick Picks sometimes, but this is it,” he smiled.
Vince plans to take his wife Heather to dinner at one of their go-to local restaurants, so that’s a win.
The two-time A-List winner likes the local survey on all that’s good in his home community.
“I try to do the contest when I see it – to support Maple Ridge businesses that I think should be support,” said Martin. “The ones that stand out should be recognized.”
That’s the point of the exercise, says Maple Ridge News general manager Charlie Costa.
He notes that there were more than 30,000 votes cast in the A-List categories.
“Every year tens of thousands of people vote for the things they love best about Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows in our A-List,” said Costa. “We hope that creates as much pride in the voters, recognizing what is excellent about their cities, as it does in the businesses, organizations, and people who make the top of the A-List.
“The end result is that list, that collection, of the many people and places that make this a wonderful place to call home.”
Adam Alcalde, multimedia consultant at The News, said it’s always a popular read.
“A-List is one of the highly anticipated features we do each year, and it speaks volumes about how a business can give memorable experiences to their patrons, and they are remembered when it’s time to be acknowledged,” said Alcalde.
“Congratulations to all the businesses that were recognized.”